Thin-film solar cell module

Abstract

The thin-film solar cell module according to the present invention has: a substrate; and a cell module having three or more cell strings, each of which has a constant width, wherein each cell string has a plurality of solar cells having the same width as the cell string and connected in series, the cell strings have the same length as the solar cells connected in series and are provided on the substrate in parallel connection so as to be aligned, the solar cells respectively have a front surface electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a rear surface electrode layered in this order, each cell string has contact lines electrically connecting the front surface electrode of a first solar cell to the rear surface electrode of a second solar cell, and the cell strings at both ends in the three or more cell strings have a width narrower than the other cell string.

1 . A thin-film solar cell module, comprising:
 a substrate; and   a cell module comprising three or more cell strings, each of which has a constant width, and a first common electrode and a second common electrode for electrically connecting the cell strings, wherein   each cell string comprises a plurality of solar cells having the same width as the cell string and connected in series,   the cell strings have the same length as the solar cells connected in series and are provided on the substrate so as to be aligned in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the solar cells are connected in series,   each cell string comprises two electrodes, one of which is electrically connected to the first common electrode and the other is electrically connected to the second common electrode,   the solar cells respectively comprise a front surface electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a rear surface electrode layered in this order,   each cell string has contact lines having the same width as the cell string and electrically connecting the front surface electrode of a first solar cell to the rear surface electrode of a second solar cell, the first and second solar cells being included in the cell string and adjacent to each other, and   the cell strings at both ends in the three or more cell strings have a width narrower than the other cell strings.   
     
     
         2 . A thin-film solar cell module, comprising:
 a substrate; and   a cell module comprising three or more cell strings, each of which has a constant width, and a first common electrode and a second common electrode for electrically connecting the cell strings, wherein   each cell string comprises a plurality of solar cells having the same width as the cell string and connected in series,   the cell strings have the same length as the solar cells connected in series and are provided on the substrate so as to be aligned in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the solar cells are connected in series,   each cell string comprises two electrodes, one of which is electrically connected to the first common electrode and the other is electrically connected to the second common electrode,   the solar cells respectively comprise a front surface electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a rear surface electrode layered in this order,   each cell string has contact lines having the same width as the cell string and electrically connecting the front surface electrode of a first solar cell to the rear surface electrode of a second solar cell, the first and second solar cells being included in the cell string and adjacent to each other, and   the cell strings at both ends in the three or more cell strings have a width of 5 mm or more and 255 mm or less, or a width of 0.36% or more and 18% or less of the sum of the widths of all the cell strings included in the cell module.   
     
     
         3 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell strings at both ends in the three or more cell strings have a width of 5 mm or more and 255 mm or less, or a width of 0.36% or more and 18% or less of the sum of the widths of all the cell strings included in the cell module. 
     
     
         4 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell module includes five or more cell strings, and the sum of the widths of the two cell strings next to each other, including at least either end of the cell strings in the five or more cell strings, is 11 mm or more and 255 mm or less, or 0.71% or more and 18% or less of the sum of the widths of all the cell strings included in the cell module. 
     
     
         5 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell module includes seven or more cell strings, and the sum of the widths of the three cell strings next to each other, including at least either end of the cell strings in the seven or more cell strings, is 17 mm or more and 255 mm or less, or 1.07% or more and 18% or less of the sum of the widths of all the cell strings included in the cell module. 
     
     
         6 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell strings have an output of 30 W or less under such conditions that the light source is a xenon lamp, the irradiance is 100 mW/cm 2 , AM is 1.5, and the temperature is 25° C. 
     
     
         7 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 1 , wherein each cell string has two electrodes, one of which is electrically connected to the first common electrode and the other is electrically connected to the second common electrode, the cell strings other than the cell strings at both ends in the cell strings satisfy that (P−Ps)/Sc is 10.7 (kW/cm 2 ) or less where the output of the cell module is P (W), the output of the cell strings is Ps (W), and the area of the cross section of the contact lines included in the cell strings is Sc (cm 2 ) under such conditions that the light source is a xenon lamp, the irradiance is 100 mW/cm 2 , AM is 1.5, and the temperature is 25° C. 
     
     
         8 . A thin-film solar cell module, comprising:
 a substrate; and   a cell module comprising three or more cell strings, each of which has a constant width, and a first common electrode and a second common electrode for electrically connecting the cell strings, wherein   each cell string comprises a plurality of solar cells having the same width as the cell string and connected in series,   the cell strings have the same length as the solar cells connected in series and are provided on the substrate so as to be aligned in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the solar cells are connected in series,   each cell string comprises two electrodes, one of which is electrically connected to the first common electrode and the other is electrically connected to the second common electrode,   the solar cells respectively comprise a front surface electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a rear surface electrode layered in this order,   each cell string has contact lines having the same width as the cell string and electrically connecting the front surface electrode of a first solar cell to the rear surface electrode of a second solar cell, the first and second solar cells being included in the cell string and adjacent to each other, and   the cell string at the center in the three or more cell strings has a width greater than that of the other cell strings.   
     
     
         9 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 8 , wherein the cell string at the center in the three or more cell strings has a width of 670 mm or less or a width of 50% or less of the sum of the widths of all cell strings included in the cell module. 
     
     
         10 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 9 , wherein each cell string has two electrodes, one of which is electrically connected to the first common electrode and the other is electrically connected to the second common electrode, the cell strings satisfy that (P−Ps)/Sc is 10.7 (kW/cm 2 ) or less where the output of the cell module is P (W), the output of the cell strings is Ps (W), and the area of the cross section of the contact lines included in the cell strings is Sc (cm 2 ) under such conditions that the light source is a xenon lamp, the irradiance is 100 mW/cm 2 , AM is 1.5, and the temperature is 25° C. 
     
     
         11 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 1 , wherein the front surface electrode is made of a transparent conductive film made of an oxide including Sn and the rear surface electrode has a multilayer structure of a transparent conductive film and a metal film. 
     
     
         12 . The thin-film solar cell module according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell module has an output of 90 W or more and 385 W or less under such conditions that the light source is a xenon lamp, the irradiance is 100 mW/cm 2 , AM is 1.5, and the temperature is 25° C.